Things Prospective Med School Students Absolutely Should Do (And Usually Don’t)

Congratulations on your decision to go to medical school. As you probably know, it’s a stressful process. Want to make it less stressful?

Before you pack your doctor’s bag, make sure you give this decision some thought. Let’s take a closer look at five strategies that you—and all prospective medical students—should do.

1. Think deeply about the reasons you want to go

Not every prospective medical student becomes a doctor—and some don’t want to go to medical school in the first place.

Wise advice? The first question you need to ask yourself is whether this decision to go to medical school is yours, or if you’re fulfilling someone else’s vision for you.

If you’re fulfilling a parent’s wish, for example, then going to medical school is unwise for you—and there’s a higher chance that you may drop out. Dropping out often leads to extreme disappointment.

If it’s yours, that’s great—but there’s still more to think about. Consider your likelihood of getting in. Take a long look at your test scores and grades. If you have what it takes, move forward with the decision. Not sure? Talk to a medical school admissions counselor at your current university, or contact a counselor at a prospective medical school.

Have what you need? Good. Now for the tricky part: think about the amount of time you want to spend on medical school, residency, and any post-doc work. Why? Medical school is a significant time—not to mention financial—commitment.

Do you want to get married? Have children? Do you have other responsibilities at home?

Give some serious thought to how you’d like to live the next eight years of your life, because that’s how long it will be before you’re even a little bit settled.

The other piece? Money. How much debt are you willing to take on? Will you be able to afford to pay back any loans after you graduate? Can you anticipate any help from family?

Going to medical school is a tough decision—and it’s worth putting the thought into it before you go rather than making a change in the middle of things.

2. Have a backup plan

If at first you don’t succeed… If medical school doesn’t quite go your way, have an alternate plan.

Still want to stay involved in medicine? Consider a graduate degree in a related field that interests you. Look into nursing or becoming a physician’s assistant. Like pharmacy? Put it on the list of possibilities. Love lab time? Add research to your list, too.

Developing your back-up plan shouldn’t feel painful if you’ve done your deep thinking that you were supposed to do in #1.

3. Check old tests

Want to do well in your coursework? Get your hands on some old tests. This isn’t cheating.

Before the age of computers, students used to request professors’ former course syllabi and tests to study—and they helped students get a better understanding of what professors were looking for. There was even a copy service where, at the beginning of each semester, you could pay a fee and have old test questions for each of your courses.

In the age of computers, you can still ask your professors for old versions of tests.

Why is this helpful? Use those old tests to study, learn, and continually re-test yourself. Figure out how each professor wants questions answered in their courses. You’ll be glad you did.

4. Take time off

Give yourself a break before you apply. Take a gap year Why? You need one.

Not only do you need a break, but you need to get a sense of yourself outside of your undergraduate experience. Get some work experience, develop your interpersonal skills, top up your scientific resume, and gain some maturity. You’ll need it for medical school.

What else? A gap year filled with interesting experiences and life lessons gives you a competitive edge in the admissions process.

5. Don’t worry about your major

Medical schools do not favor biology, chemistry, or physics majors. Medical schools do not favor liberal arts majors. Medical schools favor well-rounded applicants who have the pre-requisite courses and test scores—and the potential ability to be thoughtful, empathetic physicians who are willing to work hard and want to be doctors for the right reasons.

Your major doesn’t matter—what you do does.